Day 5 - my parents

I could not have picked better parents if I had the choice myself. They are compltely unselfish and always put us first. We always went to church as a family and they gave us the foundation of a great love for God. As Grandparents now...they are unbelievable. They love my child even though they see way too much of me in her...he he. My mom unselfishly keeps my baby while I work and I could not be more thankful! I don't ever worry about her being loved or her safety. "V" loves her Mimi and paw paw. I am also glad they showed their children that a marriage is not always perfect, but you make it work. They have always had a life outside of their children...and I think that helped out a lot when we all left the home...no true empty nest. Thank you for all you do...I hope to repay you by being the same type of parent.

Day 4 - my child

Today and everyday, I am thankful for my one sweet child.  We think she is as cute as a button...but of course we would!  "V" is the perfect blend of me and Artie.  She looks like me...and acts like both of us.  She loves to be cuddled and held, but is very independant and will do her own thing if she feels like it.  Cracking us up is her daily goal, I think.  Yesterday, I stayed home with her because she is not feeling well.  But during the day, she really perked up.  She was trying to open the oven and I told her to get away it was hot.  She so lovingly looked at me and then touched it again.  I asked her if she needed a spankin' and she quickly smiled, stuck out her little hip, and slapped her own leg while laughing out loud.  Lord help us!  She is going to be a fun child, but a headstrong little lady!  The day I had her, my life has been forever changed.  I prayed for years for a child and God answered my faithful prayer...but now I think he had some humor in him giving us a baby just like us...I wouldn't have it any other way!

Day 3 of thankful

Today I am going to be thankful for health.  I am at home with Vivian for the day because she has a double ear infection and nearly has broncitus.  I had a sinus infection and broncitus last week and now Artie is not feeling well.  So I am SUPER thankful for when we are all healthy and feeling well.  It makes for such a much better day.

31 days of thankful!

I had every intention of starting yesterday...but between a CRAZY day at work and a SUPER fussy child at home...this got bumped until today.

Nov 1:  I am thankful for my Lord God who is in complete control of this crazy thing called life.  I appreciate the free will He gives me...but I am not always the best judge of what to do with that free will.  I am thankful that I know I don't have to worry about all the things that are bothering me and that He will work them all out for the good. 

Nov.2:  I am thankful for my husband.  He has a kind heart, great father, protector over his "girls", voice of reason, and has a brain that is so filled with knowledge it scares me.  I knew when I met him that we would end up together...we were too much alike.  He is super blunt, but then again so am I.  I appreciate that he will always tell me the truth...even when I don't want to hear it.  I am thankful that he wants to sit and talk to me for hours on end just to see what I will have to say.  He makes me feel special even when I don't feel that way about myself!  Lub you Artie!

Bringing Oct. to a close

This is one of our craziest months of the year.  So many things are going on these days it is hard to keep up. 

So...lets back up a bit and catch up where I missed a couple of things.

At the beginning of Oct., my oldest and dearest friend Amy came to town for a visit and to go to the fair.  We didn't end up going to the fair because it was OU weekend and I was not about to take "V" to all that mess.  So, we met up for breakfast before she and Jeannie left to go back to San Fran.  I sure to miss getting to see her whenever I want.  I sure did take that for granted when she lived here.  So, I just fool myself into thinking that she still lives in Dallas and she is just too busy to see us all the time.  Somehow, it makes me feel better ;-)

Amy and "V"

Jeannie and Amy

All the girls

Ennis has a fall festival downtown every year.  I took "V" last year, but still too young to do anything.

This year, Fletcher came into town so we all went to the festival. 

Cousins taking care of the littlest one.

Pony rides for everyone!

The train ride sounded like a good idea...

until it wasn't.

bounce house fun

"V" taking a rest

NO WAY are we all going to look in the same direction.

Decorated pumpkins!!

Grant got to talk to Sparky the fire dog!  "V" wanted to have NO part of it.

Afterwards...chillin' at MiMi's and PawPaw's.

Fall Festival at Creekside Church of Christ

This is our first time to get to go to our church festival.  "V" was a butterfly.  She did very well wearing her wings and carrying around her wand!

MiMi and "V"

Lacy the pirate and "V"

Daniel and "V"

Playing some games

Momma and "V"

PawPaw and "V"

We left our church and headed over to my parent's church for trunk or treat.  I saw these 2 cuties and could not resist taking their picture!

Grant loving some cotton candy

THIRSTY!

TRUNK OR TREAT TIME!

THE LOOT!

This video is of "V" dancing to the band at our church festival.  She was cracking all of us up.  She LOVES music so much and kept running over to the band.

October fun!

October has been a BUSY month for us all.  Artie has been working like a crazy man and "V" and I have found things to keep us occupied in his absence.  This was from a night when I was trying on her new hats and mittens to see what we were going to be able to fit in this season.  Someone thought it best to wear them around the house and put the mittens on her feet. 

And...enough of that!

Blocks have been the fun toy that she has really started playing with ( Thank you Spaniel Family!)  This was just before bath time...hence the diaper only attire.

We have found ourselves breaking into song..."If your happy and you know it..."

We had some guests stop by on Saturday.  Melissa, Brian (sorry we didn't get a pic of you), and "EK".  They came by to get something and stayed a little while.  The girls (if you don't read regularly) are only 15 days apart.

"EK" must have been remembering a time when "V" did her wrong...she was not pleased to see her at first.

But we quickly got a smile!

"V" went in for a hug and "EK" kept her eye on the camera!

RED OAK PUMPKIN PATCH

I love the pumpkin patch that our local Methodist church put on every year.  They have all shapes and sizes and at a pretty good price.

This is what "V" did as soon as I let her down and run around...pray for the pumpkins.

She was screaming at the top of her lungs...APPLES!!

This face...If you know Artie well at all, this is HIS face.  I can't make this face if I tried.  She was watching a little boy run around and assessing his damage.

Little "G"...well, he isn't that little anymore.  He will be 4 in April.  YIKES!  He dressed as a pirate to get his pics taken!